By Anna McKenzie

Attachments are the basis of human connection. We form healthy or unhealthy attachments with others based on our experience of relationships and the world around us. Attachment issues in adults can stem from both early childhood and personal development; attachment issues in children are usually formed in infancy, though early childhood relationships can play a part as well. 

Understanding and addressing attachment styles can be helpful in addiction and mental health treatment, especially for young adults, who are formulating their identity and learning their place in the world. 

Types of Attachment Styles

In the 1970s and ’80s, developmental psychologist Mary Ainsworth and psychoanalyst John Bowlby developed attachment theory, defining three types of attachment styles (with a fourth added later). Their research focused on the connection between infants and primary caregivers and how caregiving relationships affect childhood development. 

Bowlby and Ainsworth postulated that attachment styles form early, sometime within an infant’s first 18 months of life. And the relationships that a person experiences throughout their development (childhood, young adulthood, and adulthood) can affect their attachment style.

Here are the four types of attachment styles:

Secure

Children with the secure attachment style display trust in others, are not afraid of being abandoned, and have an appropriate level of dependence and independence relating to caregivers. They are generally confident and can form positive, healthy relationships with others.

Young adults and adults with a secure attachment style seek out healthy relationships, are not afraid of getting emotionally close to others, and are not bothered if their partner needs space. In infancy, consistent caregiving allows secure attachment to form, though children or adults with other attachment styles can become more secure if they are engaged in more stable relationships.

Anxious

Children with the anxious attachment style often display an overdependence on caregivers and tend to stick closely to them. They feel insecure in their connections and struggle to trust others. This can play out in young adulthood and adulthood as neediness and chronic fear of abandonment.

In infancy, anxious attachment may form as a result of inconsistent caregiving, where the caregiver’s presence or emotional response was primarily unpredictable; however, tumultuous relationships in childhood or adulthood can also contribute to the formation of this attachment style.

Avoidant

Children with the avoidant attachment style operate more independently and resist asking for help. They may isolate or become aggressive, unable to form steady attachments to others.

In young adulthood and adulthood, the avoidant attachment style may be indicated in detachment, social withdrawal, fear of commitment, or fear of intimacy. In infancy, avoidant attachment may form when the caregiver is primarily emotionally unavailable or unreliable. But this attachment style may also form based on a person’s experience with neglectful relationships.

Disorganized

Children with the disorganized attachment style have trouble finding a way to cope with stress related to their caregiver relationships. They may withdraw, be clingy, act out, or exhibit an inconsistent response to caregiving or lack of connection.

This attachment style is rare and not well understood. In young adulthood and adulthood, it may manifest in extreme or risk-taking behaviors (though other types are not exempt from displaying these behaviors) and is marked by a deep craving for relationships and an equally strong resistance to intimacy and close connection. 

Do I Have Attachment Issues?

If you have been dealing with the fallout from unhealthy behaviors and attachments, you may be wondering, Do I have attachment issues? Or, What is my attachment style?

It’s not easy to identify your attachment style from brief descriptions. A therapist or treatment professional can talk you through the nuances of attachment styles and help you identify your style based on your upbringing and personal history.

If you’ve been struggling with finding stable relationships, fear of abandonment or intimacy, social isolation, or other issues related to attachment styles, seeking the help of a therapist or support group can be especially helpful. These practices can assist you in resolving painful wounds from the past and learning how to form positive connections.

If you’ve been using substances, food, sex, or process behaviors (like shopping, gaming, or gambling) to cope with your distress, it’s time to reach out to treatment professionals to help you get your life back on a healthy track. 

How Attachment Issues Play Out in Treatment

If you are asking, What is my attachment style? as you enter treatment, you will quickly find out. Therapists, clinicians, and even your peers may point out your behavior patterns, whether you gravitate toward too much connection or resist it entirely. 

As you learn about the factors that have contributed to your addiction or mental health issues, you may discover how your attachment style has impacted you and others. You will also learn what healthy attachment looks like and how to clear the path to engage in stable relationships with others.

Find Healing at The Meadows

At The Meadows, we understand that many factors often contribute to your addiction or mental health conditions, including attachment styles formed in infancy or from personal experiences. We use research-backed therapies and evidence-based treatment to help you overcome the wounds of the past to live a healthy, fulfilling life in recovery. If you or a loved one is interested in learning more, please contact our team today. We would love to speak with you to find out how we can best help.